Archive
After the Primaries, A United Progressive America
The Democratic presidential campaign began with remarkable unity from the candidates regarding what needs to be done to revitalize the economy and restore America's moral authority—and their populist themes even spilled over into the Republican primary. That does not...
Outright Barbarism vs. The Civil Society
I live in a nice place. I mean that literally. It took some getting used to. After 20 years in Silicon Valley, where people put a premium on being direct and to the point, have no time to waste on small talk or personal sharing, and will call a stupid idea stupid to...
The Age of the "Insurance Card Marriage"
Forget green cards. A growing number of Americans are getting hitched to get health insurance. Some people marry for love, some for companionship, and others for status or money. Now comes another reason to get hitched: health insurance. In a poll released today, 7%...
Today In Issues To Be Ignored
Even when the media reports on a critical issue, the media ignores it. Last week, NBC Nightly News aired a series on our crumbling infrastructure called "Falling Apart." (Check out the videos below, as well as my colleague Isaiah's post on rebuilding America.)...
Let's Bank On Rebuilding America
Instead of a silly argument over a "gas tax holiday," we desperately need a serious discussion about the nation's infrastructure. And there is a good legislative proposal that could be the basis for that discussion. There are bills in the House (HR 3401) and the...
A Glimpse of the Conservative Health Care Future
McCain's health care plan effectively ends employer-provided health benefits and has everyone buy health insurance on an "individual market" with fewer "regulations."
Electrocuted at Age 22
Every day, most of us go to work and then come home. Next day: Rinse, repeat. But some U.S. workers go to work and never come home. In April 2005, Donald Wilcher Smith was one of them. The 22-year-old central Texas man was electrocuted at the Sanderson Farms...
The Week In Blog: Conservative Health Care Follies
Over at Bloggingheads.tv, Heritage Foundation's Conn Carroll and I offer another installment of The Week In Blog. Conn and I discussed blogger reaction to McCain's health care plan, which largely draws from the plan supported by the conservative Heritage Foundation....
Postcard from Buenos Aires
Dear Rick, Greetings from Buenos Aires. You are always talking about how we need to invest more in our public infrastructure. How 'bout this street sign strategy from the Paris of Latin America? Anne
Brave New Laws
By an overwhelming bipartisan margin, Congress has passed what sponsors are calling the first civil rights act of the 21st century: the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. The Act, which President Bush is expected to sign, prohibits employers and insurance...
